Becoming a God Starts with Acting

"Boom!"

No one knew which part of the train carriage, now engulfed in flames, had collapsed from the ceiling, but it crashed with thunderous noise. At the same time, the fire surged even more violently, completely swallowing the figures of Aurora and Lilith, blocking everyone's view.

Asta stared in despair, his eyes wide with shock. And it wasn't just him—everyone inside the dungeon, even those outside it, were plunged into hopelessness, like lost souls trapped in endless night with no way out.

The sky grew darker still. A dense shroud of darkness veiled even the once-dazzling rift above, like a hymn to the night, heralding the beginning of the apocalypse.

"The gods..." Layla murmured.

"Send a message to the next main esper squad," Frank said slowly.

All of them seemed to have no choice but to accept the bitter truth—that humanity would lose this time. Their first defeat since the gods had offered their aid. Because this time, not a single person had been able to summon the Supreme One.

Had even those great beings abandoned them?

"Ha."

Right then, a soft laugh came from within the raging flames, halting everyone in their tracks. The sound, bewitching and melodious, brushed past their ears like water, filled with scorn, mockery, and a distant aloofness that felt utterly untouchable.

Within the fire, Lilith stared intently at Aurora's smile, the obsession in her gaze deepening. Her fangs glinted—she looked like she wanted nothing more than to devour Aurora right then and there.

"Laughing? Are you happy that I've taken a liking to you, too? Don't worry…"

Lilith leaned in slightly as she spoke, her breath brushing against Aurora's ear.

"I have so many toys. I promise I'll make you laugh even more—and not just with that mouth of yours."

[Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god!!!!]

[The broadcast system isn't censoring Lilith?!]

[Help! I'm not even 18 yet aaaaaaaaaa]

[If not that mouth, then what other mouth? Lilith, I demand an explanation!!!]

[As expected of The Dark Night Princess, hahaha]

[I love this plot twist. Will there be a live broadcast later, too? Hahaha. I want to watch Lilith force Aurora into a romance—nothing else!]

[My little brother is rising from the dead over here]

[Why does Aurora look so calm? Is she seriously smiling?!]

Lilith didn't care that they were trapped in the fire. After all, the flames couldn't hurt her—they were nothing more than dancers performing to enhance her mood.

Aurora narrowed her eyes at Lilith. The corners of her lips curled up slightly, and in an instant, her gentle, beautiful face turned strangely seductive and sinister.

"What if I told you I don't have a mouth down there?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, like a lover's murmur.

Lilith's eyes widened slightly, as if caught off guard.

She instinctively reached out to touch the place everyone knew she was aiming for—but Aurora grabbed her hand tightly.

"How rude."

Lilith sneered and tried to pull away, but at that moment, she realized—no matter what she did- she couldn't break free from Aurora's grasp.

Impossible. This can't be!

Aurora had already stood up, dragging Lilith along with her. The flames surrounding them no longer danced—flickering weakly, as though drained of life, they began to fade… dimmer… smaller… until they all disappeared.

[Hey, hey, hey, what is this development…]

[Two bosses facing off?]

[Who even is Aurora?]

[Aaaaaah, I'm freaking out, I need answers, why are there so many plot twists?!!!!]

Asta and the others looked at Lilith—the one whose power had brought all of them to their knees—now being effortlessly restrained with a single hand by Aurora. The shock in their eyes far outweighed any joy.

A newly appeared esper… could she stand against a boss of this level?

No. They were starting to suspect Aurora might be just like Lilith.

And at that moment, Aurora suddenly spoke:

"What a coincidence. I also find the demonic stench on you revolting. Just standing this close makes me sick."

She smiled, eyes narrowed like a fox, all her former gentleness gone without a trace.

Lilith thrashed wildly, but Aurora had lifted her into the air—she was floating, completely suspended!

Lilith's crimson eyes looked like they were about to weep blood. A magic circle lit up before her, and she screamed:

"Sleep, sleep, sleep, go to sleep! Why won't you sleep, damn you!"

But to Lilith's hysterical outburst, Aurora only laughed. At the same time, the ground beneath her feet suddenly split open. Cracks spread instantly across the entire train, causing it to shake violently as though it might collapse at any moment.

Aurora's entire body glowed with a blinding radiance. The flames aboard the train suddenly flared up again—but this time they burned with a mysterious red-black hue, like the fires of hell itself.

Aurora restrained both of Lilith's arms with one hand, lifting her high. With the other, she gripped Lilith's throat. The sickening crack of bones echoed loudly.

Lilith's face twisted in unbearable pain, her skin turning a ghastly purple like raw liver.

At the same time, a dazzling light began to shine from the very spot where Aurora's hand clutched her throat. Cracks spread from there, crawling across Lilith's body until her entire face looked like a porcelain mask about to shatter.

"I wonder," Aurora said coldly, staring at Lilith with mockery in her eyes,

"Who gave you the confidence to trespass on someone else's domain and dance before me?"

"Die."

At that word, her grip tightened.

Lilith's entire body shattered into countless fragments—

Those fragments then crumbled further into fine dust,

A blinding light spread across the train, banishing the dark red haze that had smothered humanity… pulling them out of the nightmare.

At the same time, the voice of the dungeon system rang out, mechanical and chilling:

[Congratulations to humanity for successfully summoning the deity: Degenerate!]

The announcement came so abruptly that those just regaining their senses couldn't react.

Ron's eyes widened, unable to believe the brilliance before him, even as tears burned in his eyes from the brightness.

"We've been saved again," Nyx whispered, her gaze unconsciously drawn toward the figure within the light.

A new god? She couldn't help but wonder—what kind of god would this one be?

Asta sat up, eyes fixed on the tall, radiant figure emerging from the light.

That woman—more dazzling than the light itself—

Was that really… a god?

[I'm dead—no one wake me up]

[Oh my god, what is this eye-melting brilliance? I feel like this god will surpass Prophet and Nerio!]

[Some of you need to calm down. Why would a powerful god wait until now to take action?]

[Exactly. From what I've seen, Aurora wasn't fooling around—she was always doing her best to help people survive. Either she was too weak or never planned to save humanity.]

[Over 200 people went in… now barely 50 are left. Ha. Tells you everything about this "god."]

[If it weren't for The Dark Night Princess, Degenerate might never have shown up.]

[Don't care. Aurora—no, Degenerate on top!]

[But like… what's with that name? Aurora is so beautiful and gentle—don't do my wife dirty like this. Could the devs not come up with a more fitting, elegant name for her?]

[Aurora and a god?! Ten pairs of pants weren't enough for this moment!]

[Okay, fanboys, tone it down, you're getting gross.]

[Like fangirls were any better drooling over Nerio!]

Clack, clack, clack!

The sound of heels striking the train floor rang out sharply in the silence.

Everyone's eyes flew open, fixed on the new god walking out of the dazzling light.

Her outfit remained the same—even the bloodstains on her dress remained.

At that moment, some people felt they finally understood why her face had never looked quite human.

This god… maybe she was benevolent, many of them couldn't help but think.